Chapter Forty

Jasper

I didn't like the way Peter and Jay were looking at Bella or the suggestive remarks they were making although as far as I could tell Bella wasn't encouraging them. She did however seem to like Jay just a little too much. I could feel my desire for her building, I had a constant hard on and all I wanted to do was to take her and make her mine, mark her as my mate. Once my scent was all over her and in her then everyone would understand and I could relax but for now all I could do was struggle to try to hold on to my sanity.

Hunter had told us to choose a cabin and that's exactly what we did. Bella chose a smaller cabin but one with a view over the lake. I was only concerned that it had a bed and I pulled her down beside me,

"Shall we test it out?"

She smiled and shook her head,

"Not now, there are too many people around, anyway I'm so tired of all this traveling and living out of a bag. I want a proper shower and a nap and hopefully by the time I wake up that hot tub will be ready. I've always wanted to try one, have you ever been in one?"

I shook my head, the idea had never really appealed before but the thought of being close to Bella in that hot water where my cold skin would no longer be such a problem did appeal. it also made me desire her more but I nodded and waited while she took a shower in the small bathroom wishing I were the sponge she used to wash her naked body and only just stopping myself from crashing into the shower stall with her and taking there and then.

Still she was a human girl who didn't understand what she was doing to me, I had to take it slowly or I could terrify her. I wondered if she were still a virgin, I really hoped so, I wanted to be not only her last but her first lover too. When she came out dressed in a long tee shirt and a pair of shorts it was a struggle to just lay down beside her and watch as she fell asleep, her head on my shoulder and her warm scented hair across my skin. One arm came up to wrap around my chest and I stroked it gently with my free hand the other wrapped around her holding her close to my body. I could feel every contour of her delicious feminine form, her breasts squashed against my side and the warmth of her thigh as she snuggled still closer.

Peter

It didn't take a fucking scientist to see that the major couldn't go on like this without something breaking and I didn't want it to be one of us, not even Jay the asshole but he would hold off as long as he could so as not to frighten Bella. The trouble was he had already got the poor kids head in a whirl, she didn't know why he was acting the way he did and I could hardly sit her down and explain, it was one time I wished the girls were here.

I stood on deck watching as Hunter cleaned out and refilled the hot tub then switched it on,

"Looks like a fucking washing machine to me, I don't know why you bother getting changed, just sit in with your clothes on and get it all done, body and clothes clean. Anyway I doubt anyone packed their swim wear under the circumstances and you can hardly skinny dip with young Bella around."

"No problem Peter, I've got plenty in one of the closets, I'm sure you'll find something that appeals."

"Not unless she's six foot, blonde, and loves a cowboy."

I turned and went below to see what Darius was up to, I couldn't stomach watching Mystic Meg and the clone on deck any longer.

I found Darius in the living area, the table strewn with electronics none of which I recognized. Char was always nagging me to join the 21st century but I was happier in my own, things had got too fucking clever by half. Phones weren't used to talk to people any more and computers meant people like Darius could spy on you only too easily, there was no privacy any longer and I hated that, things moved just too fucking fast for me.

"You found anything or is this little set up just here to impress us?"

Darius barked a laugh and gestured for me to join him.

"Nothing yet but I've set up surveillance on your old friend, just to make sure she keeps her promise."

"Yeah like that's gonna happen! Maria hasn't got a straight bone in her body."

"Well so far she has only contacted Caius once."

"See?"

"Let me finish, to tell him Jay tried to escape and she's keeping him somewhere safe while she trains him. Caius accepted her story and nothing else has been said so..."

"Yeah well just watch out, that one's like a snake only she ain't gonna give ya any warning before she strikes."

"And that my boy is why I'm watching her."

"Good lad, now what about the clone?"

"Well I think The Major's right, Caius isn't in this alone, he wouldn't chance a coup without backing and I don't mean Maria."

"Nah, not her style, besides she'd never leave Mexico for Italy and she hates Aro so maybe that's why she's helping Caius."

"Maybe but why then turn on him to help The Major?"

"You'd have to ask the clone, he seems to know Maria better than the rest of us, maybe she's turned over a new leaf, decided a halo suited her better than a pitchfork but but don't drop your guard where she's concerned Darius. If she's turned her coat once she can sure as hell do it again."

The Major came out of the cabin Bella had chosen and he was tense. It was worse than I thought because when Darius went past to see Hunter on deck he tensed and I saw his knuckles were strained with the pressure of the fist he had made and his body tensed although I didn't think Darius had noticed. I knew The Major better than any man alive and he was fast reaching the stage where someone was gonna get hurt or killed. Deciding I'd better do something I sat looking out the window at the water and then it came to me. All I needed to do was to get him to the point where he'd drag Bella to their cabin and take her, problem solved, we had a mellow Major. He just needed a little more encouragement and the hot tub was just the thing to nudge him over the edge.

I went through the closet until I found the swim gear and dragged out all the female stuff, most of it was too refined for my needs but I found a couple of skimpy bikinis which would be perfect, one for Alice and one for Bella. If that didn't get him panting for Bella nothing would.

I hid the rest and went back up on deck to watch as the tub filled and started to heat up. Alice had already dipped her toe so to speak and was eager to try it out,

"Hunter do you have any swimwear or do I have to go in my underwear?"

Jay's eyes lit up although personally I thought she was far too skinny, still every man's poison was different! He sent her down to the closet and Jay followed her so I Knew they would be a while, it seemed he was making doubly sure everyone knew Alice was his mate.

As they left The Major came up with Bella moving aside grudgingly for Alice and Jay to get past and as Jay smiled at Bella I saw him tense once more, fuck there was going to be war if he didn't get some soon. Come on Bella get with the program, your man needs you.